Motor vehicle lighting



E. 3. DE SMET ET AL MOTOR VEHICLE LIGHTING Dec.

2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed April 25, 1945 INVENTORS 517mm? [117551157 JUHNWIUMKMJA) I W a E. c. DE SMET ET AL MOTOR VEHICLE LIGHTING Dec. '28, 1948.

z Sheets-Sheet? Filed A rii 23, 1945 IN VEN TORS .FDQAHD [7.17s L B Jam! WDILKASUN A TORNEY Patented Dec. 28, 1948 l EdgardC. De Smet and John W. Dickason, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Willys-Overland Motors, Inc, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application April 23, 1945, Serial No. 589,912

2Claims. (01. 24047.1)

This invention relates to lighting formotor ve- "J?" hiclesand more especially to headlamp arrangements therefor. .7 V The invention comprehends the incorporation of lamp structures in, a vehicle construction in cooperation with simpleyet effective means for masking or screening the, lamps when the same are-not in use.

The invention embraces, the provision of a vehicle headlamp arrangement particularly disposed .for cooperation with movable closures or; masks ,for the lamps which in closed or masking position preserves the continuity of the frontal body surface of the vehicle.

'An object of the inventionresides in the pro- Vision of a closure or masking means for a vehicle headlamp arranged for pivotal movement about a fixed axis so that the closure may be readily moved to closed or open position by simple yet effective means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a masking closure for a vehicle headlamp and manipulating means therefor which incorporates anarrangementwhereby the closure may be retained in closed or open position. 7 Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combination of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a iconsideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

,Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a frontal surface of a vehicle body illustrating a form of lamp masking means of our invention with the masking means in closed position;

Figure 2 is'a view similar to Figure 1 showing the lamp closures or masking means in open or unmasking position;

- Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and showing one form of manipulating means for operating the closure; l Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4l of- Figure 2 showing the closures in open position;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, detail sectional View taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-45 of Figure 1;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line l-'l of Figure};

means (not shown) Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 88 ofFigure 4.

While we have illustrated one form of our invention as adapted for masking a vehicle head,- lamp or screening an opening through which light rays from the headlamp are normally pro- J'ected, it is to be understood that we contemplate the use of our invention in any arrangement whereby the same may be found to have utility.

' Referring to the drawings in detail, the vehicle body portion illustratedlis inclusive of a frontal surface it provided with openings H and l2 which are bounded at the upper and lateral ,edges'by inwardly extending flanges l4. Disposed ahead of or projecting from the lower portion of the frontal surface It is an escutcheon or member l5 which is formed at its central portion with louvers or grill work It, the latter arrangement facilitating the passage of air to a cooling radiator, (not shown) for cooling the vehicle engine. It should be noted that the escutcheon It forms or defines the lower edges of the openings I l and [2 in the frontal surface Ill. Disposed rearwardly of the openings H and [2 in the frontal surface l0 and contained withinthe compartment formed by the latter is apair of headlamps or headlamp units I1 and I8, each unit preferably incorporating a sealed lamp unit E9 of conventional design supported -Within--a metallic casing 20, the latter being, mounted upon any suitable supporting The illuminating means or headlamp units are so arranged that light rays emanating from the lamp constructions l9 are projected forwardly through the openings l I and I2 to normally illuminate the roadway in advance of the vehicle w We have provided closures 23 and Madapted for cooperation with the openings II and I2 and which are movable to a closed position as illustrated in Figure 3 to mask or cover the lamp unit H, and are movable to open positions as shown in figures 4 and 5 so as not to screen or intercept the projection of light rays through the openings H and I2. I Each of the closures 23 and 24 is formed-with a peripheral flange 26, and to the cured to flanges H by welding or by other suitable means is a pair of rearwardly extending brackets 32 which serve to support a shaft 33, the axis of shaft 33 being in alignment with the axis of the pivot pins 29. As particularly shown in Figure 7 a bushing 34 extends into the hollow interior of the tubular shaft 33 and serves as a journal or bearing :uponwhich the shaft 33 is? rotatably mounted. Each bracket 32 is provided'with an opening in alignment with the axis of shaft 33 lo and is adapted to accommodate the threaded-- portion of a bolt 35 extending into-ta'threildedi opening axially disposed in the bushing 34' The bolt 35 is formed with a shoulder portion 365a drawn into threaded engagementwwith 131481311181 34, the bracket 32 is tightly clamped between washer 31 and bushing, 34 whereby the-bushing" is nonrotatably secured to bracket 32. The member il'secured toa closure is formed with 'armnening through which .exten'dsethe shoulder portion "3B of 'bolt 35 whereby dahe emember .28 :is pivotally supported upon the shoulder portion of they holt.

journaled on the shoulder 36 of bolt 35. Due to the fact that the arms 28 of both closures are connected to the tubular shaft 33, the closures 23 and 24 will be simulaneously swung to open position upon rotation of shaft 33. It should be noted that the contour of the cam slot 47 is such that when the arm 42 is in either of its positions as indicated :in mem s-danc e ansularity ofthe s t 00- operating'with the roller-48 is such as'to provide a locking angle so that the arm 42 and parts connected therewith including the closures 23 and 24 cannetbemoved except by pivotal movement of arm 42 through manipulation of the knob 62 and I iong-itudinalvnovement of the operating wire 51. ra ed to be brought into'en agement with -a -By this -meansrthe"closures and associated parts washer or spacer 3! so that when the bolt "35 is The 'arrangement just :describedforms a means arranged at each end of the shaft for pivotally supportingthe members 28,1which in turn :are secured to the fiangedportions ofeach :0f the closures23 and Mas shownin Figure 6;

Manipulating means are providedrfor movin -3 =the c-losures -13 and: 24 l to closed and open positions as particularlyillustratedin Figures 3 ;and.4. A member it-supports a ul-sh'aped "bracket or support 4+ upon which is pivotally mounted a memberor arm 42 by means "of a .pintle orpivot x '43. The upper extremity of arm 42 is provided with a pi-n li uponwhich is ajournaledxa zroller 4-3 which extends into-a slotfl-I for-medin an 48j 't-he latter being welde'das at 49 For otherwise fixedly secured-to the tubular shatt' M-eas shown in Figured. The arm 48 is generally 'of L-shaped 'configuratiomand the leg pontion ifl hf memherfl Lis 'pivotal ly'connected bymeans of iavpintle .or screw-5+ to the inner end==of-bracket-'28;- Aspanrticularlyshown in Figured thearm-M -isprovided tightl'yswaged to-the arm 42 so as to permit relae30 tive-pivotal movement of member 54 thereon. The member -54-is provided with an openingto receiveaflexi-ble -wire-51 which is adjustably held or retainedin an opening *in member 54 by means of 'a screw 5-8. As particularly illustrated in Fig- 155 ure 3 the Wire 57 is guided or contained'w'ithina sheath 5 9-whichis secured to the dashboard B0 or other suitable supporting means mounted-upon the vehicle-frame. Secured to the extremity' of erablydisposed-belowan instrument panel :63 of the vehicle.

I operating the closures, assuming--that 'the latterare in closed'positionas viewed in: Figure 3,

wire 51 "is a manipulating means -orknob 52 pref- (460 the vehicle operator grasps :the. khob fi'z and by e65 *withdrawing the same to-the -dotted position ini- =dicated in Figure 3,*the wire 5 l beingeonnected to an-m "42 causes the latter tozpivota'bout the pin "43 and roller 46 i to 'traverse the cam slot 4'! formed'in arm' 4i8 tornove :the arms 42 and 48 into 12m the position illustrated "in Figure-4; .As -the leg portion of arm 48 is-pivotally connected by cpi-vot 5il to bracket 28,:movement -of.-arm 48 causes the :closuree23 "to "be swung downwardly around the ax'is ct -shaft 33 as bracket-Zfl is pivotallv are retainedor locked in either closed or open position-,andwill-not vibrate or rattle when the vehicle is traveling over rough terrain. An arm 65',"Wld8d to the tubular shaft 33, is connected by means of a contractile spring 66 to the bracket 4!, the spring to substantially counterbalance the rotational movement ofthe closures 23 and 24 and the brackets associated therewith about their pivotal axis so that li-ttle effort is required in the manipulation of the closures. It will be noted 'fromexamination of figure '3' that when theiclosures are in closed-positionathedamp units l l are masked thereby and are entirely enclosed-within the bodycompartmen't iormedby the frontal surdace s40 =andclosures 23 and J 24 the continuity of the frontal-surface being preserved-by the particular exterior configuration of the closure :blendingwith the frontal surface.- It should also be noted that the escutcheon l5'-is-partiallyoverlapped bythe'lower-porti-on of the closures so as to provide a neatappearance and atthesame .timeprovide an arrangement wherein the closures maybe swung downwardly to ,openposition about a fixed axis, viz. the axis of shaft 33 and (29. .Ihnough the use l oiuourinvention, 1 it ,is unnecessary. toprovidameans to withdraw theiclosures laterally ,out of; the openings before the swinging movement car-intake place as. has been necessary in prior structures; Whenthe closuliesare moved t full op n-pos ion as illustrat d in lam s 2 and-g, theme is .no obstruction .or masking of I the .I-WS of iehtem na ne fimmthe headlamp nits.

Itis ppanenttthat, withinthescope of "then-in- Mention,:modificationssanddifienent arrangements may he made'other than sis-herein disclose/l and the present disclosure zeil lustrative merely, the innenirlanzcomprehending allwaniation thereof 1. In a motor vehicle having an exterior-sun -face formed =with an opening; an illuminating means disposed' adjacent *the opening; a closure for said opening -movable to mask and unmask the illuminating means said: closure beingsup -.ported -for= pivotailmovement about a relatively fixed axis and arranged-to swing downwardly to an open position; the exterior-su-r-facemf "said closure being in -the-same plane with the exterior surfaceof the vehicle I surrounding theopening when said closure-is in closed position; an arm arranged for pivotal movement about a relatively fixed axis; 'a-second arm =pivotally connected to said *closure and arranged for movement simultaneously therewith; a slot *formed in one of said arms;- a projection-- carried by the other of said arms and cooperatihg with said slot whereby movement ofsaid'pivotedarm causesmovement of said closure; resilient means to 'partially 'counterbalance the weight of said-closure, saidpin and slot connection and said resi lient meansforming a retaining means for securing said closure in masking and unmasking positions and manipulating means connected to said pivoted arm to control the position of said closure.

2. In a motor vehicle having a frontal surface formed with an opening, an illuminating means disposed adjacent the opening; an escutcheon member projecting exteriorly of the frontal surface and defining a lower edge of the opening; a

closure for the opening pivotally supported for 10 movement about a relatively fixed axis and movable to mask or unmask the illuminating means; said closure being arranged to swing downwardly away from said opening in unmasking position; said closure being configurated whereby a portion of its exterior surface is disposed adjacent to and in overlapping relation with said escutcheon member when said closure is in masking position; an arm pivotally supported for movement about a relatively fixed axis out of alignment with the axis of movement of said closure; an elbow arm pivotally connected at one end to said closure; a pin and slot connection between the other end of said elbow arm and said pivotally supported arm; said elbow arm being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends about an axis in alignment with the axis of movement of said closure; manipulating means connected to said closure for moving the latter to masking or unmasking positions, and means including said pin and slot connection for holding said closure in masked or unmasked positions.

EDGARD C. DE SMET.

JOHN W. DICKASON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,329,684 Ashley Sept. 21, 1943 20 2,331,973 Grose Oct. 19, 1943 2,360,461 Ackerman Oct. 17, 1944 2,360,530 Voorhees et al Oct. 17, 1944 

